PLUNKET SHIELD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 19

PLUNKET SHIELD

AUCKLAND BATTING SEVEN WICKETS FOR 332 WHITELAW'S SOLID INNINGS TWO HOME COLTS IMPRESS Fortunes fluctuated in the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and Wellington, which was commenced at Eden Park yesterday, the home side at stumps having lost seven wickets for 332 runs. On winning the toss, the Auckland captain, A. J. Postlcs, had no hesitation in batting. The wicket and outfield, however, proved to bo slow and during the morning period the Wellington bowlers pinned the batsmen down to defensive tactics. Auckland at one stage had lost three wickets for 68 runs and the visiting bowlers were well on top.

The homo side staged a fine recovery as the wicket gradually dried and the batsmen were able to become more free, but it was only in the later stages of the .afternoon that the scoring rate quickened to any extent. A fine innings was played for Auckland by P. E. Whitelaw, the opening batsman, who was in for "195 minutes for 56 runs. In association with G. L. Weir (54) he added 87 runs for the fourth wicket. Two colts,, V. Scott and V. S. Sale, livened proceedings b}' good running between the wickets. Sale made a bright 38 while Scott was more subdued for a solid innings of 61. The New Zealand representative W. X. Carson batted particularly brightly for 66 not out. Pine Bowling The Wellington fast bowler, T. L. Pritchard, put up a fine performance in taking two wickets for 62 runs in 25 overs, six of which were maidens. J. Ashenden bowled much better than his figures of one for 79 indicated. The other wickets were evenlv divided.

The conditions were dull throughout the day with occasional bursts of sunshine. There was an attendance estimated at about 2000- 1

Whitelaw and Postles were cautious when they opened to the bowling of Pritchard and Ashenden on a slow wicket, which sent the ball through at varying paces. Ashenden was keeping a splendid limg'th and he finally got a, good one past Postles. 25 —I—B. Wallace, the newcomer, was content to play Ashenden, who was still very accurate, while he watched rising deliveries from Pritchard clear his off stump. The scoring was still slow and an hour's play realised 40 runs. Whitedaw relieved a dull period with a drive through the covers, which left the fieldsmen standing. Wallace Dismissed Gallichan keptb floating his deliveries up to Wallace, who was reaching for his favourite cover drive, and finally a splendid length delivery was mistimed by the batsman and Ashenden accepted a chance in the slips. 632 — 23._ Vivian opened in a shaky manner to Gallichan, being badly beaten by two good deliveries and mistiming several others. With his score at two he lifted Gallichan to long on, where Ongley just failed to get his hands to a difficult chance. Whitelaw was plodding along quietly and was in his twenties for a long period,,-Vivian lost his wicket when he cocked one from Pritchard on the leg side and Rainbird dived to make a fine catch. 68—3—5. Lamason had timed Pritehard's return to' the bowling crease nicely, as the sun was starting to take effect on the wicket and the ball was lifting awkwardly. Both Whitelaw and Weir were troubled, a "kicker" hitting Weir 9n the left, hand and rebounding just short of forward mid-oh. The score at luncheon was 77 for three wickets, Whitelaw being ,33 and Weir 1.

With the wicket still playing slowly, thfe batsmen were on the defensive on resuming and the scoring rate showed no improvement, Weir glanced a delivery from Pritchard and the ball went through Browne's hands. Both batsmen were shaping more confidently when Ashenden was given the ball in place of Pritchard. Gallichan was unfortunate when Weir .lifted him to deep mid-off and Browne missed an easy chance. The 3100 appeared in (the same over after 150 minutes' batting, Whitelaw having 41 to his credit and Weir 16. Weir Hits Out Although he was not timing the ball well, Weir attempted to break through the bowlers' dominance and a powerful off drive just cleared Browne's fingers at deep mid-oil. The ball rapped Weir on the pads in the next over when he attempted to lift Ashenden high to the leg fence, the batsman badly misjudging the flight of the ball. Although he did not connect properly, Weir hit threei boundaries with shots on the le<j side and was in the forties with Whitelaw. Both reached their fifties in the siame over, Whitelaw taking 186 minutes :and Weir 84 minutes. The 150 appeared after 190 minutes. Harpur was given a trial with the ball, and after Weir had sent one uppishly through the covers he caught and bowled Whitelaw. 155—4—56.

Weir, in attempting to lift Browne over the fence, was caught at deep mid-off by Ell; 163 —5—54. Sale and Scott started nicely, the former quickly reaching his twenties. At the tea adjournment the score was 210 for five wickets, Sale being 34 and Scott 21.

Sale lost his wicket just after the resumption when he chopped one through the gully and a difficult chance was accepted by Lamason. 218—6—38. Pritchard was definitely hostile after Carson had come to partner Scott, the fast bowler's deliveries lifting awkwardly and causing both batsmen concern. Carson, nevertheless, endeavoured to force the pace from the outset, while Scott. proceeding quietly, reached 30. Faster Scoring Rate

Runs started to come more freely after o p.m., both batsmen shaping confidently on n wicket which had dried out. Scott's defence was a hurdle for the bowlers, while Carson had dropped his earlier aggressiveness and was watching the ball carefully. Scott reached his 50 after 114 minutes, with the total at 278.

A separation was effected when Scott snicked one from Lamason, which was taken neatlv by Tindill. 2957 —61.

Carson was partnered by Matheson, and the former raised 300 with a brilliant cover drive. Carson hooked Browne to the fence to reach his 50 after 85 minutes.

Matheson joined Carson and defended with characteristic stubborness. Carson drove freely to overpitched deliveries and collected an occasional four in spite of a weJt-seli field. The score at stumps was 332 for seven wickets. Details are as follows:

AUCKLAND' —First Innings A. J. Postics, "b Ashenden .... 8 P. E. WhitelaW, o and b Harpur . . 56 W. M. Wallace, c Ashenden, b Gallicba n . . . . .... . . 23 H. G. Vivian, c 'Un in bird, b Pritcliard . 5 G. Jj. Weir, c Ell. b Browne- . . . . 54 V. J. Scott, o Timlill, b Lamason 61 V. S.* Sale, c Lamason, b Pritchard 38 W. X. Carson, not, out 66 A. M. Matheson, not out .... 5 Extras . . . 16 Total for seven wickets .. .. 332